Label moistener



Dec. 13, 1949 J. F. WERKER 2,491,019 1 LABEL MOIS TENER Filed Dec. 1'7,1947 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L INVENTOR. c/afin Fh e7"%e7" ATTCI RN EYE Dec.13, 1949 JY'F, WERKER 2,491,019

LABEL MOISTENER Filed Dec. 1'7, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

35 Q dofir? Fh/er/rer ATTCI RN EYS Patented Dec. 13, 1949 UNITED staresearner orrics LABEL MOISTENER John F. Worker, Vincennes, Ind.

Application December 17, 1947, Serial No. 792,193

1 Claim.

'moistening of the label.

Another object of the invention is to provide a suitable reservoir forthe absorbent roller, so

that thelroller is maintained in a moistened condition at all times.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device that is simplein construction, eflicient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the inventionconsists of the novel details of construction, arrangement andcombination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed andillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevatlonal view of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical, sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 2 andFigure 6 is a perspective view of the label guide.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral H3 isused to generally designate the label moistener embodying the invention.

The moistener comprises a body having a base plate H, which isrectangular in cross-section, and may be made of wood, metal or anyother suitable material. Secured to the base plate H, in verticalrelation thereto, are the relatively spaced side plates I2 and I3respectively, which are bridged at their front ends by the cross plate Il. The cross plate is is flush with the forward edge of the base platell, and the vertical end edges of the side plates 52 and it are flushwith the rear edge of the base plate II. It will be seen from thedrawings, however, that the side plates are inset with regard to the endedges of the base plate I I.

The side plates, for their entire height, are freely open at their rearedges, but a cross bar l 5 is secured to the top edges of the sideplates, so that the side edges of the bar and the end edges of the sideplates, are in vertical alinement with each other.

Adjacent the forward edges of the side plates 52 and i 3, there isprovided in each plate, a semicircular recess l', which is adapted toreceive the shaft H. The shaft H is thus rotatably mounted on the sideplates, and extends in parallel longitudinal relation to the base plateI l.

The shaft I? is provided on. one end with a knob handle l8, whereby theshaft is rotated. Secured to the shaft ll intermediate of the sideplates 52 and i3, is a solid roller l9, and on this roller se is sleevedan absorbentroller or sleeve 2a The roller 2@ is moistened by capillaryattraction of the water H placed in a pan 22 directly below the rollerand resting on the base plate H. Therefore, as the shaft is rotated, theroller 2| is constantly moistened.

The side plate 12 has a bearing plate 24 secured .thereto by fasteners25, and the bearing plate 2 engages the free end of shaft ii to retainthe shaft in its relative position with relation to the roller 2e andpan 22.

The side plate [3 also has a bearing plate 26 secured thereto byfasteners 27, but this plate has a recess 28 conforming to the shape ofthe recess I6 in the plate l3.

Secured to the cross bar l5, at right angles thereto, by fasteners 29are the spring bands 30 and 3| respectively. These bands extend inparallel relation to the side plates l2 and I3, and are mounted slightlyinwardly of the side plates.

The bands extend almost to the forward end edges of the side plates, andare adapted to exert downward pressure on the label guide 32, which isslidably mounted on the bands 30 and 3! respectively.

The guide 32 is in the form of a comb, as shown in Figure 6, having theback bar 33 on which are formed the forwardly extending parallel relatedand relatively spaced teeth 34.

The teeth are of normal formation, and rest on the roller 22.

The back 33 of the guide 32 is provided with open ended slots 35 whichslidably engage the bands Sal and 3!, respectively. The portion of theback 33 forming the top of the slots is cut away, as shown at 35, toprevent the back from binding on the bands.

The guide is made of a clear plastic and prevents the label from gettingwet on the top thereof as it passes under the guide.

In use, the label is fed from the forward side of the label indicatorIll, and the label passes under the guide as the. shaft I1 is turned,

3 by means of the knob l8. As the shaft I"! is rotated, the label willpass outwardly of the moistener between the side plates, and under thecross bar IS.

The moistener is efflcient, easy to operate and will effectively moistenthe label, as it passes over the roller, by means of the downwardpressure of the guide on the label caused by the ten sion thereon of thebands 30 and 3|.

It is believed that from the foregoing description, the operation andconstruction of the moistener will be apparent to those skilled in theart, and it is to be understood that changes in the minor details ofconstruction, arrangement and combination of parts may be resorted to,provided they fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope ofthe appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

A label moistener of the type described, comprising a base plate, a pairof relatively spaced side plates secured to said base plate in verticalrelation thereto, a cross plate secured at its opposite ends to one ofthe vertical ends of each of said side plates in engagement with thebase plate and flush with the longitudinal edge thereof, a shaftjournalled on the upper longitudinal edges of said side plates, anabsorbent roller on said shaft, a liquid containing means on said baseplate below said roller and rearwardly of said cross plate so thatliquid placed in said container will be in contact with said roller, across bar secured at its opposite ends to the upper longitudinal edgesof said side plates adjacent the ends thereof remote from ends securedto the cross plate, a pair of spring bands secured at one of their endsto said cross bar adjacent the outer ends thereof, and extending in ahorizontal plane over said roller in spaced relation to each other andin parallel relation to the ends of the roller, a guide member havingopen ended slots therein adjacent the opposite ends thereof and theslots in said member adapted to engage said spring bands so that saidguide member is mounted on said spring bands for sliding movementthereon, relatively spaced teeth members on said guide member adapted toextend inwardly of the ends of said spring bands to engage said rollerto effectively force a label to be moistened into contact with saidroller.

JOHN F. WERKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 781,136 Duncan Jan. 31, 1905973,631 Cushman Oct, 25, 1910 1,243,595 Downing Oct. 16, 1917 2,256,640Ettl Sept. 23, 1941

